Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Sanitation Supervisor

💰 $65,000 - $85,000

ManufacturingOperationsFood & BeverageQuality AssuranceSupervisory

🎯 Role Definition

As a Sanitation Supervisor, you are the cornerstone of our facility's hygiene and safety program. You will lead, mentor, and manage the sanitation team to ensure all processing equipment, production lines, and plant facilities meet and exceed regulatory and company standards. This hands-on leadership role requires a proactive and detail-oriented individual who can drive continuous improvement, manage resources effectively, and collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Quality Assurance, and Maintenance to ensure operational excellence and product safety. You are directly responsible for maintaining an audit-ready environment at all times, making you a critical leader in our operational success.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Sanitation Lead / Team Lead
  • Senior Sanitation Technician
  • Quality Assurance Technician with a focus on sanitation

Advancement To:

  • Sanitation Manager
  • Quality Assurance (QA) Manager
  • Plant Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Production Supervisor
  • Quality Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Direct, train, and supervise a team of sanitation workers, ensuring adherence to established cleaning schedules, safety protocols, and performance standards.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain the facility's Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) to ensure all areas and equipment are cleaned at the appropriate frequency.
  • Author, review, and update Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), ensuring they are accurate, effective, and consistently followed by all team members.
  • Guarantee compliance with all food safety regulations and standards, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP, SQF, BRC, and FDA/USDA requirements.
  • Conduct daily pre-operational inspections of equipment and facilities, utilizing methods such as ATP swabbing and microbiological testing to verify sanitation effectiveness.
  • Manage the inventory, ordering, and budget for all cleaning chemicals, sanitation supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Provide comprehensive training to sanitation staff on critical topics including chemical safety, proper handling and dilution, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, and specific cleaning techniques.
  • Lead root cause analysis investigations for any sanitation-related non-conformances, deviations, or failures, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
  • Collaborate closely with Production, Quality Assurance, and Maintenance departments to coordinate sanitation activities, minimize downtime, and address facility-wide hygiene issues.
  • Prepare the facility and sanitation team for internal, third-party, and regulatory audits, acting as a key point of contact for sanitation-related inquiries.
  • Maintain meticulous and audit-ready documentation, including daily sanitation records, chemical usage logs, training records, and MSS completion reports.
  • Oversee the operation and maintenance of specialized cleaning equipment, such as COP tanks, foamers, and floor scrubbers.
  • Manage the integrated pest control program, liaising with third-party service providers and ensuring all program requirements are met.
  • Drive a culture of safety within the department, ensuring all team members utilize appropriate PPE and adhere to all workplace safety policies.
  • Schedule sanitation staff, manage time-off requests, approve timecards, and conduct regular performance reviews and disciplinary actions as needed.
  • Monitor and control the departmental budget, tracking expenditures for labor, supplies, and chemicals to ensure financial targets are met.
  • Investigate and formally report on any workplace accidents, injuries, or near-misses that occur within the sanitation department.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing sanitation efficiency, reducing chemical and water usage, and improving overall cleaning effectiveness.
  • Validate the sanitation procedures for new or modified equipment and production lines to ensure they can be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
  • Troubleshoot immediate sanitation challenges on the plant floor, providing expert guidance and hands-on support to resolve issues quickly.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to sanitation performance metrics (e.g., ATP scores, micro results).
  • Contribute to the organization's long-term data strategy and roadmap by providing insights on sanitation data collection and analysis.
  • Collaborate with business units, particularly Engineering and R&D, to translate data needs and new product requirements into sanitation engineering and procedural requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies for cross-functional projects impacting the sanitation department.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Food Safety & Quality Standards: In-depth knowledge of HACCP, GMP, and GFSI schemes (SQF, BRC).
  • Regulatory Compliance: Strong understanding of FDA, USDA, and OSHA regulations.
  • Chemical Safety & Handling: Expertise in the safe use, storage, and titration of industrial cleaning agents.
  • Sanitation Program Management: Proven ability to develop and manage Master Sanitation Schedules (MSS) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs).
  • Microbiological & ATP Testing: Experience with environmental monitoring, ATP swabbing, and interpreting microbiological data.
  • Pest Control Management: Knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and practices.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Skill in using problem-solving tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams) to investigate sanitation failures.
  • Budget Management: Ability to manage departmental budgets, control costs, and forecast expenses.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership & Team Management: Demonstrated ability to train, motivate, and lead a diverse team to achieve departmental goals.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with team members, management, and auditors.
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to effectively troubleshoot issues and implement lasting solutions.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and thorough approach to inspections, documentation, and procedural compliance.
  • Time Management & Organization: Ability to prioritize tasks, manage schedules, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Collaboration & Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams like Production, QA, and Maintenance.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to manage changing priorities, work different shifts as needed, and respond to urgent situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Food Science
  • Microbiology
  • Chemistry
  • Business Management or a related field

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of experience in a sanitation role within a manufacturing environment, including at least 1-2 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Preferred: Direct experience in a USDA or FDA-regulated food and beverage manufacturing facility is highly preferred. Experience with ready-to-eat (RTE) products is a significant asset.

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